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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Fe$phi on December 26, 2013, 12:16:15 PM

Title: Nitrogen even oxidation states?
Post by: Fe$phi on December 26, 2013, 12:16:15 PM
Okay so I saw a couple other posts similar to this but I didn't quite understand them. I understand why N would form +3 -3 and +5 oxidation states because it would be filled 1s 2s or 2p orbitals, but why would N form +4 oxidation states in things like NO2. Also what is Ns oxidation state in N2, and if there are any other possible Oxidation states of N could you please explain those too along with examples.
Title: Re: Nitrogen even oxidation states?
Post by: Hunter2 on December 28, 2013, 07:07:55 PM
Nitrogen can exist in oxidation states from -3 until +5.
Examples: Ammonia -3, Hydrazine -2, Azocompounds R-N=N-R -1 , Nitrogen 0, Laughing gas +1, nitrogen monoxide +2, Dinitrogentrioxide +3, nitrogen dioxide +4 and dinitrogenpentoxide +5

Title: Re: Nitrogen even oxidation states?
Post by: sjb on December 29, 2013, 06:06:03 AM
Quote from: Hunter2 on December 28, 2013, 07:07:55 PM
Nitrogen can exist in oxidation states from -3 until +5.
Examples: Ammonia -3, Hydrazine -2, Azocompounds R-N=N-R -1 , Nitrogen 0, Laughing gas +1, nitrogen monoxide +2, Dinitrogentrioxide +3, nitrogen dioxide +4 and dinitrogenpentoxide +5

If you are going to count laughing gas as +1 then don't forget species like azide or similar as well.
Title: Re: Nitrogen even oxidation states?
Post by: Hunter2 on December 29, 2013, 07:34:43 AM
Yes correct. I know that N2O looks like -N=N+=O but for calculatio in redox reaction its easier to treat Nitrogen like Hydrogen in water molecule.
In HN3 the nitrogen is -0.33.
Title: Re: Nitrogen even oxidation states?
Post by: Fe$phi on December 29, 2013, 10:46:33 AM
okay so i understand N2O
but i still dont get NO2    O=N=O   am i wrong? does it only exist in ionic form?
so the only time it forms +4 oxidation states is when its an ion?
and could you give some examples of -2 -1 +1 +2 oxidation states with structural formulas like you did for those this is really helpful so far thank you
Title: Re: Nitrogen even oxidation states?
Post by: Hunter2 on December 30, 2013, 08:55:02 AM
nitrogen dioxide is in an equilibrium with dinitrogen tetroxide N2O4 <=> 2 NO2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_dioxide

One oribitale at the nirogen carries only 1 electron, what can overlap with an second nitrogen. It depends on pressre and temperature.